The Rev. Canon William George Penny
Republican-American (Waterbury, CT)
December 27, 2005
LITCHFIELD - Every Thursday for several years, the Rev. Canon William George Penny sat on a park bench on the Waterbury Green ministering to friends and passersby. At lunchtime, he moved inside, continuing his mission at the St. John's Church soup kitchen.
December 27, 2005
LITCHFIELD - Every Thursday for several years, the Rev. Canon William George Penny sat on a park bench on the Waterbury Green ministering to friends and passersby. At lunchtime, he moved inside, continuing his mission at the St. John's Church soup kitchen.
The Rev. Penny, 86, who spent more than half a century behind the pulpit in New York and Connecticut, died Saturday, Dec. 24, at Rose Haven in Litchfield. He was the widower of Natalie (Thompson) Penny.
"He was always doing something, helping people," said his daughter, Priscilla P. Loomis of Morris. "They always knew he was somebody who they could sit and talk with and confide in."
The Rev. Penny was born Sept. 10, 1919, in English Harbor, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, son of the late Joseph Long and Mary Elizabeth (Ivany) Penny. He grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduated from Ellsworth High School in Kansas.
He served in the Army during World War II. He received a bachelor's degree from Carroll College and a master of divinity degree from Nashotah House Theological Seminary, both in Wisconsin. He also received a master of arts degree from New York University in 1959 and a doctorate from Nashotah House Theological Seminary in 1979. He was ordained an Episcopal priest by Bishop James P. DeWolfe, Episcopal bishop of Long Island, on Dec. 23, 1950.
He founded St. Margaret of Scotland in Fresh Meadows, N.Y., and was the head priest from 1950 until 1957. From 1957 to 1966, he was rector of St. Joseph's Episcopal Church and headmaster of St. Joseph's School in Queens Village, N.Y.
He was then appointed the archdeacon of Queens and Nassau in the Diocese of Long Island and became a canon of the Cathedral of the Incarnation. He also served as the development officer for the diocese of Long Island. In 1979, he became the director of development and community relations for St. Mary's Hospital for Children in Bayside, N.Y., where he remained until his retirement in 1985.
Following retirement, the Rev. Penny moved to his summer home in Morris. He served as interim priest at Christ Church in Bethlehem, All Saints Church in Oakville, Christ Church in Waterbury, Christ Church in Canaan and All Saints Church in Wolcott. He was also involved with the Ministry on the Green and the St. John's Church soup kitchen and coauthored a book, "More than Fine Gold."
"He wasn't one that would sit. He had to be involved and he had to be around people," his daughter said.
After moving into the Workman Home in Torrington last year, he started leading a Mass every Saturday night. His congregation grew from about three or four people to more than 20, Priscilla said.
And he always maintained that he would return to his "Ministry on the Green."
"He still thought he was going to go back to it," Priscilla said. "He had a very strong will. He was not giving up."
He was also member of the Litchfield Rotary Club, the Masons, and Kiwanis, and a life member and New York State chaplain for the American Legion Post in Auburndale, N.Y. His hobbies included playing the African drums with his grandsons.
Besides his daughter, he leaves two grandsons; and two step-grandchildren. A brother, Wilfred Penny, is deceased.
Arrangements: Funeral 10 a.m. Friday at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Litchfield. Burial in Bantam Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Arrangements by Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield.
Contributions: Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Old Iron Ore Road, Bloomfield 06002; or Joseph Marcantonio Kidney Center, 780 Litchfield St., Torrington 06790.
Compiled by Sydney Schwartz
"He was always doing something, helping people," said his daughter, Priscilla P. Loomis of Morris. "They always knew he was somebody who they could sit and talk with and confide in."
The Rev. Penny was born Sept. 10, 1919, in English Harbor, Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, son of the late Joseph Long and Mary Elizabeth (Ivany) Penny. He grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and graduated from Ellsworth High School in Kansas.
He served in the Army during World War II. He received a bachelor's degree from Carroll College and a master of divinity degree from Nashotah House Theological Seminary, both in Wisconsin. He also received a master of arts degree from New York University in 1959 and a doctorate from Nashotah House Theological Seminary in 1979. He was ordained an Episcopal priest by Bishop James P. DeWolfe, Episcopal bishop of Long Island, on Dec. 23, 1950.
He founded St. Margaret of Scotland in Fresh Meadows, N.Y., and was the head priest from 1950 until 1957. From 1957 to 1966, he was rector of St. Joseph's Episcopal Church and headmaster of St. Joseph's School in Queens Village, N.Y.
He was then appointed the archdeacon of Queens and Nassau in the Diocese of Long Island and became a canon of the Cathedral of the Incarnation. He also served as the development officer for the diocese of Long Island. In 1979, he became the director of development and community relations for St. Mary's Hospital for Children in Bayside, N.Y., where he remained until his retirement in 1985.
Following retirement, the Rev. Penny moved to his summer home in Morris. He served as interim priest at Christ Church in Bethlehem, All Saints Church in Oakville, Christ Church in Waterbury, Christ Church in Canaan and All Saints Church in Wolcott. He was also involved with the Ministry on the Green and the St. John's Church soup kitchen and coauthored a book, "More than Fine Gold."
"He wasn't one that would sit. He had to be involved and he had to be around people," his daughter said.
After moving into the Workman Home in Torrington last year, he started leading a Mass every Saturday night. His congregation grew from about three or four people to more than 20, Priscilla said.
And he always maintained that he would return to his "Ministry on the Green."
"He still thought he was going to go back to it," Priscilla said. "He had a very strong will. He was not giving up."
He was also member of the Litchfield Rotary Club, the Masons, and Kiwanis, and a life member and New York State chaplain for the American Legion Post in Auburndale, N.Y. His hobbies included playing the African drums with his grandsons.
Besides his daughter, he leaves two grandsons; and two step-grandchildren. A brother, Wilfred Penny, is deceased.
Arrangements: Funeral 10 a.m. Friday at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Litchfield. Burial in Bantam Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Arrangements by Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield.
Contributions: Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, 103 Old Iron Ore Road, Bloomfield 06002; or Joseph Marcantonio Kidney Center, 780 Litchfield St., Torrington 06790.
Compiled by Sydney Schwartz
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